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John (Doukas), caesar (eleventh century, second half)

 
 

Obverse

Bust of the Mother of God, nimbate, holding before her the medallion of the Christ child. Sigla to both sides: ̄θῡ: Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Circular inscription within border of dots.

ΘΚΕΟΗΘΕΙ̣Τ̣̣Σ̣ΟΥΛ

Θ(εοτό)κε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ

Reverse

Bust of the caesar John Doukas, with forked beard, wearing a jeweled crown surmounted by a cross, a divitision, and a chlamys fastened at the right shoulder, and holding a cross in his right hand. Circular inscription within border of dots.

Ι̄ΤΕ̣.........ΑΤ,ΚΑΙΣΑΡ,

Ἰω(άννῃ) τῷ ε[ὐτυχεστ]άτ(ῳ) καίσαρ(ι)

Obverse

Bust of the Mother of God, nimbate, holding before her the medallion of the Christ child. Sigla to both sides: ̄θῡ: Μή(τη)ρ Θ(εο)ῦ. Circular inscription within border of dots.

ΘΚΕΟΗΘΕΙ̣Τ̣̣Σ̣ΟΥΛ

Θ(εοτό)κε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ

Reverse

Bust of the caesar John Doukas, with forked beard, wearing a jeweled crown surmounted by a cross, a divitision, and a chlamys fastened at the right shoulder, and holding a cross in his right hand. Circular inscription within border of dots.

Ι̄ΤΕ̣.........ΑΤ,ΚΑΙΣΑΡ,

Ἰω(άννῃ) τῷ ε[ὐτυχεστ]άτ(ῳ) καίσαρ(ι)

Accession number BZS.1958.106.5635
Diameter 30.0 mm
Previous Editions

Zacos–Veglery, no. 2683b.

Translation

Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Ἰωάννῃ τῷ εὐτυχεστάτῳ καίσαρι.

Theotokos, help your servant John, the most fortunate caesar.

Commentary

Zacos attributed this series of seals to John Doukas, the famous caesar and brother of Constantine X Doukas (1059–67). These seals are remarkable for their depictions of John Doukas himself on the reverse. Although John was caesar (kaisar) from 1060, upon the accession of Constantine X, until his death in 1088, Zacos assigned these seals to the narrower period from 1060 to 1071, when John became basileopator (BZS.1955.1.3008).